Railway traffic controlling



repeater. relay ZLGPR. The operating circuit for signal ZLA, onlyaportion ofwhichis shown, includes contacts IWR.38, lW'R.-39, ZHR-JU,contact 2HR4I closed in the. right-hand position, winding42 of signal2LA,.and conductorC.

55 of relay ZHR, and the winding of. relay 2HF to.

conductor C.

It follows that with the. apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, signalindication lamp 2K will first become lighted on account of theenergization of relay 2I-IKR. when the circuit for relay .2I-IR. isclosed,

and may then be extinguished during the interval of time between theopening of contact 5| of relay 21H, on account of relay ZHR openingconi'tact 55 at the back point, and-the subsequent closing of contact 5|of relay ZHF when contact 2LGPR53 completesthe second circuit traced forrelay. ZI-IF. If, for some reason, signal ZLA should not at once clear,contact. of relay ZI-IR.

afiwould open at its front point, and would then complete, at itsbackpoint, the circuit first traced for relay ZHF. Relay ZI-IF wouldthusbe periodically energized and deenergized until signal ZLA cleared,or until the leverman moved lever 2V away from the r position. Signalindication lamp 2K would thus display a flashing indication.

I shall now assume that with the apparatus modified as shown in Fig. 2,the leverman desires to clear signal 2LA. He will therefore move lever2V to its r position, causing relay ZHR to become energized by currentof reverse polarity passing from battery 2Q, through conductor C,Winding of relay 2I-IR, contact 3| of relay 2HF, conductor 30, windingof relay ZHKR, and contact 29 of lever 2V in the right-hand position toterminal N. With relay ZHR energized by current of reverse polarity, acircuit will be completed for periodically energizing relay ZHF bycurrent passing from terminal B, through contact 32 of coder D, contactZLGPRr-34, contact 35 of relay ZHR closed in the right-hand position,contact 36 of relay ZI-IR, and the Winding of relay ZHF to conductor 0.Relay ZHF, being periodically energized, will periodically open itscontact 3| in the circuit previously traced for relays 2HKR and ZHR,causing contact 31 of relay ZHKR to be periodically opened. Lamp 2K willtherefore display a flashing indication until signal ZLA clears andcauses contact 2LGPR-34 to open.

Upon the operation of signal 2LA to its G or Y position, selected inaccordance with traflic conditions-in advance, contact 22 or contact 23,respectively, of signal ZLA will open, causing relay ZLGPR to becomedeenergized. With relay 'ZLGPR deenergized, contact 2LGPR,34, operatedby this relay, will open the circuit previously traced for relay ZI-IF,and hence contact 3| of relay ZHF will be constantly closed, causingrelay 2HKR to be constantly energized, which in turn causes lamp 2K tobe constantly energized.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, it followsthat in apparatus embodying my invention, operations of a track switchmay be governed by switch control circuits including a switch controlconductor and a common conductor, and signal control circuits includinga signal control conductor and the same common conductor as is used inthe switch control circuits, govern the clearing of one or more signals.A signal indication device is controlled-by indication circuitswhichinclude the signal control conductor and the. common conductor. In oneform of apparatus embodying my invention, there may be a. singleinterruption of the signal indication device when a si nal is beingcleared in normal operation. If, however, a signal. should. fail toclear properly, there would be repeatedinterruptions of the signalvindication device. The signal indication device: isoperated constantlyas soon as the signal corresponds to the condition of energization ofthe signal control relay. In a second form of apparatus embodying. myinvention, the signal indication-device. is periodically operated fromthe time the signal. control relay is energized until the signalcorresponds to the condition of energization of the signal controlrelay.

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of apparatusembodying my said indication relay closed when saidelectricallycontrollable device responds to energization of said controlrelay, a second indication relay, a manually controllable circuitincluding the windings of said control relay and of said secondindication relay as well as a front contact of said first indicationrelay and a source of current, and indication means controlled by saidsecond indication relay.

2. In combination, an electrically controllable 5 device, a controlrelay, means controlled by said control relay when energized foroperating said electrically controllable device, an indication relay, acircuit controlled by a back contact of said control relay forenergizing said indication relay, a second circuit for energizing saidindication relay controlled by a front contact of said control relay andclosed when said electrically controllable device responds toenergization of said control relay, a second indication relay, amanually controllable circuit including the windings of said controlrelay and of said second indication relay as well as a front contact ofsaid first indication relay and a source of current, and indicationmeans controlled by said second indication relay.

3. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first and a secondsignal each operable for governing trafiic movements into said stretch,a polarized control relay, means controlled by a front neutral and anormal polar contact of said control relay for operating said firstsignal, means controlled by a front neutral and a reverse polar contactof said control relay for operating said second signal, an indicationrelay, means controlled by said control relay when said control relaybecomes energized by current of normal polarity for periodicallyenergizing said indication relay until said first signal responds tosuch energization of said control relay, means controlled by saidcontrol relay when said control relay becomes energized by: current ofreverse polarity for periodically energizing said indication relay untilsaid second signalresponds to reverse energization of said controlrelay, manually controllable normal and reverse energizing circuits forsaid control relay, and indication means controlled over said normal andreverse energizing circits by said indication relay.

4. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first and a secondsignal each operable for governing traffic movements into said stretch,a polarized control relay, means controlled by a front neutral and anormal polar contact of said control relay foroperating said firstsignal, means controlled by a front neutral and a reverse polar contactof said control relay for operating said second signal, an indicationrelay, means controlled by said control relay when said control relaybecomes energized by current of normal polarity for periodicallyenergizing s'aid indication relay until said first signal responds tosuch energization of said control relay, means controlled by saidcontrol relaywhen said control relay becomes energized by current ofreverse polarity for periodically energizing said indication relay untilsaid second signal responds to reverse energization of said controlrelay, manually controllablenormal and reverse energizing circuits forsaid control relay, and indication means controlled by said indicationrelay.

5. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first and a secondsignal each operable for governing traific movements into said stretch,a pair of conductors, manually controllable means controlled over saidpair of conductors for effecting operation of said first signal, othermanually controllable means controlled over said pair of conductors ofsaid second signal, an indication relay, means controlled by said firstmanually controllable means when put in condition for effectingoperation of said first signal to periodically energize said indicationrelay until said first signal becomes operated, means controlled by saidother manually controllable means when put in condition for effectingoperation of said second signal to periodically energize said indicationrelay. until said second signal becomes operated, and indication meanscontrolled over said pair of conductors by said indication relay.

J OHN M. PELIKAN.

for effecting operation 1 Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES RAILWAYTRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS John M. Pelikan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignorto The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Original application March 20, 1937, Serial No. 132,06'7.-Divided and this application June 9,

1939, Serial No. 278,311

Claims.

My invention relates to railway traffic controlling'apparatus of thetype involving switches and signals controlled by manually operablemeans, such for example as levers located at a control point, and hasfor an object the provision of means for accomplishing the control andindication for signals with a minimum number of line wires between thecontrol point and the controlled device. The present application is adivision of my copending application, Serial No. 132,067, filed March20, 1937, for Railway trafiic controlling apparatus. r

I shall describe several forms of apparatus embodying my invention, andshall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view. showing oneform of apparatus embodying my invention for controlling and indicatingone or more signals over a pair of conductorscomprising a signal controlconductor and a common conductor. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showinga modification of the control and indi-' cationcircuits. shown in Fig.l. 7

Similar reference characters refer to 3 similar parts in each of theviews.

Referring first to Fig. l, the reference characters 3 and 3a designatethe track rails of a track section E F which is separated by means ofinsulated joints 4 from adjacent portions of a stretch of' railwaytrack. Track section E -F is provided with a track circuit including abattery 5 connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section,and a track relay TR con- 35 nected across therails adjacent theopposite end of: the section.

Located in section E-F, is a track switch I. This switch is operated bya mechanism M which is controlled by a slow release polarized switchcontrol relay IWR.

Adjacent the point E, signals ZRA and 2R3 are located for governingtrafific movements over switch I from left to right as shownin thedrawing, which I shall assume is the eastbound direction. Signal ZLA,adjacent point F, is for governing westbound traflic movements overswitch I in the normal position in which it is shown in the drawing. Thesignals are controlled in part by a slow release polarized signalcontrol relay 21-112..

In each of the views, the contacts operated by the various relays orother devices are identified by numbers, such numbers havingdistinguishing prefixes from which they are separated by a-dashwhen thecontacts are shown apart from the relay 55 brother device by which theyare operated. The

(c1. 24e 219) a Y prefix for each of these contact numbers comprises thereference character for the respective relay or other device.- Forexample, contact lWR-I2, shown in the operating circuits for switchmechanism M, is identified-by the-number l2 separated by a dash from theprefix IWR which is the reference character for relay IWR. by which thiscontact is operated. Similarly, contact ZHR-M, shown in the operatingcircuits for signals ZRA and 2LA, is identified by the number 4|separated by a dash from the prefix 2I-IR which is the referencecharacter for relay 2I-IR by which this contact is operated.

Switch control relay IWR and signal control relay ZHR are manuallycontrollable by devices, such for exampleas levers IV and 2V,respectively, located at a control point which may be an interlockingtower or. dispatchers ofiice. Each of these levers has a normal positionn, in which it is shown in the drawing, and a reverse position r to theright. Lever 2V has also a reverse position 7 to the left. l

' The normal and. reverse energizing circuits for relay IWR include aswitch control conductors and a common conductor C. The normal andreverse energizing circuits for relay ZHR include a signal controlconductor 30 and the common conductor C.

The circuits for relays IWR and ZI-IR are supplied with current forenergizing these relays from a suitable source, such for example asbat-fteries IQ and 2Q located at thecontrol point. The positive terminalof battery 2Q and the negative terminal of battery IQ are connectedtogether and with common conductor C. Battery- !Q has a positiveterminal B, and battery 2Q has a negative terminal N.

The switch control circuits for energizing relay IWR include a contact[I] of a lock relay ILRQ Relay lLR-may be controlled by track relay TR.and by an approach locking relay, or by any other means desired. Theapproach locking relay for controlling relay ILR may be controlled inany suitable manner, such for example as shown for relay L in LettersPatent of the United States, No. 1,956,851, granted May 1, .1934 to C. ABrooks and J. M. Pelikan for Railway traflic controlling apparatus.

A signal indication relay ZI-IF, as here shown, is of a slow releasetype. Relay ZHF is energized by current from terminal 13 of battery IQ.Two cir'- cuits for energizing relay ZHF are controlled by signalrepeater relays ZLGPR and,.2RGPR, 're,- spectively, in conjunction. witha front. neutral.

contact and a polar contact of relay 2BR. A

third circuit is provided for relay ZHF, controlled bya back contact ofrelay 2HR.

The signal control circuits for energizing relay 2I-IR include theWinding of a second signal indication relay ZI-IKR in series with theWinding of relay ZHR, and also include front contact 5i of the firstsignal indication relay ZHF. A signal indication device, such forexample as a lamp 2K, is controlled by the second signal indicationrelay ZHKR.

As here shown, signals ERA, 2RB and ZLA are of the Searchlight type, butmay be of any other suitable design. As shown in the drawing, each ofthese signals comprises a member 43 mounted to oscillate between twoextreme positions, and controlled by a Winding 42, and by a permanentmagnet or an electrcmagnetfnot shown, so that when winding 42 isenergized, member 43 will move to one of its extreme positions or theother, according as winding 42 is energized by current of normal orreverse polarity. Member 43 is biased to a middle position, in which itis shown in the drawing, and which it occupies when winding 42 isdeenergized. Member 43 carries three roundels G, R and Y arranged tocooperate with an electric lamp 2 in such manner that when memroundel G,respectively, is placed in front of lamp As shown in the drawing, lamp1' is above the roundels, but the lamp is placed in this location forpurposes of illustration, and it is to be understood that in actualpractice the lamp is directly behind the roundels. Each lamp 2' isconnected directly with terminals x and 0 of a suitable source ofcurrent, and is therefore constantly lighted. A signal of this type isdisclosed and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States, No.1,864,224, granted to Wesley is energized only when signal 2LA isindicating stop. Relay ZRGPR is similarly controlled by signals ZRA andZRB.

As shown in Fig. 2, periodically interrupted current is provided bypassing current from terminal B through contact 32 of a coding device D.Coding device D may be of an oscillatory type operating at a lowfrequency of the order of cycles per minute, and provided with aself-control contact 6 as well as with contact 32 for periodicallyinterrupting the current supplied from terminal B, and also having awinding designated by the numeral I20 corresponding tothe frequency ofoperation of coding device D. The contacts of coder D are biased by acoil spring I to the position shown in the drawing, when the coder isdeenergized. Coder D is connected directly with conductor C and, throughits contact 6, is connected with terminal B, and is therefore constantlyin operation.

In Fig. 2, signal indication relay 2I-IF, instead of being of the slowrelease type as shown in Fig. 1, is quick enough acting to respond tothe periodically interrupted current supplied from contact 32 of coder Dto circuits controlled by signal control relay 2I-IR and by signalrepeater relays ZRGPR and ZLGPR. Relay 2HR is here controlled by a backcontact 3| of relay 2I-IF instead of by a front contact as in Fig. 1.

Having described, in general, each of the forms of apparatus shownembodying my invention, I shall now trace in detail the operation ofthese forms of apparatus. I I

As shown in the drawing, all parts are in the normal condition, that is,the switch and signal control levers IV and 2V, respectively, are intheir normal position n; switch I is in its normal position; signalsZRA, ZRB and 2LA are indicating stop; coding device D is operating;relays TR, ZRGPR, 2LGPR, IWR and ILR are energized; relay ZHF of Fig. lis also energized; relays 2HR and ZHKR of both figures, and relay 2HF ofFig. 2' are deenergized; lamps -i of signals 2RA, ZRB and 2LA arelighted, and signal indication lamp 2K is unlighted.

I shall first trace the operation of the form of apparatus shown in Fig.1.

With switch control lever IV in its 11 position, switch control relayIWR is energized by current of normal polarity passing from terminal B,through contact 8 of lever IV in the left-hand position, switch controlconductor 9, contact In of relay ILR, and the winding of relay IWR tocommon conductor C. With relay I WR thus energized by current of normalpolarity, the normal operating circuit for switch mechanism M isarranged, passing from terminal B, through contact IWR-l 2, contactIWRI3 closed in the left-hand position, mechanism M, and contact. I WRI4closed, in the left-hand position to conductor C.

With signals ZRA and 2RB indicating stop, signal repeater relay 2RGPR isenergized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contacts 22and 23 of signal ZRA, contact 22 of signal 2RB, and the winding of relay2RGPR to conductor C. With signal 2LA indicating stop, signal repeaterrelay ZLGPR is also energized by its circuit passing from terminal B,through contacts 22 and 23 of signal 2LA, and the winding of relay ZLGPRto conductor C.

With relay 2HR deenergized, relay 2I-IF is energized by its circuitpassing from terminal B, through the back point of contact 55 of relayZHR, and the winding of relay 2HIF to conductor rent of reverse polaritypassing from battery 2Q,

through conductor C, Winding of relay 2HR, contact 5| of relay ZI-lF,conductor 30, winding of relay ZI-LKR, and contact 29 of lever 2V in itsright-hand position to terminal N. Completion of this circuit causesrelay 2I-IKR to close its contact 31, thereby completing a circuitpassing from terminal B, through contact 31, for lighting signalindication lamp 2K.

Relay 2I-IR, upon becoming energized, opens its contact 55 at the backpoint, deenergizing relay ZHF, and then closes this contact at the frontpoint, and closes its polar contacts in the reverse position. Upon thelapse of a brief period of time required because relay ZHF is slowreleasing, contact 5| of relay 2I-IF may open the circuit traced forrelay 2HR. Since relay 2HR is also slow releasing, the front contact ofthis relay will not open immediately. Before the front contact of relay2HR has had time to open, signal 211A will have cleared and opened thecircuit for signal

